First, take a walk around the car and look for general appearance that is an indication of how well the car was taken care of. Mark down any defects you find: cracks on the windshield, scratches, dents, corrosion spots, broken lenses, faded mirrors, worn wipers, missing wheel covers (hubcaps), etc. Later you may ask the dealer to fix these problems as a part of the deal or negotiate the price down accordingly.
Take your time; normally it takes 30 - 40 minutes to inspect a whole car body all around. Look alongside of the car. The lines of the car body should be perfectly straight. Look at the top image, this Honda Accord hasn't been in an accident, and you can see the body lines are perfectly straight. Look at the reflection, it is perfect, no ripples and paint quality of all panels looks the same. Try to check the entire car this way. Ripples indicate possible body repair. If the rear fender of the Honda Accord has ripples, then it was repaired after a rear-end accident. Check all the gaps between the body panels. All gaps should be of the same width and even along the entire length.
Check the manufacturer's label which is usually located on the driver's door or door jamb. Are there any signs of altering? Check the VIN number. Also check the exact date when the vehicle was manufactured. Get you
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The condition of the vehicle interior is another good indicator of how the vehicle was taken care of. Look at the driver's seat, is it excessively worn like the one in the picture? Check all the seat belts paying particular attention to the one at the driver's seat. Test all doors, are they open and close freely? Try to lock and unlock the driver's and passenger's doors and the trunk with the key.
Secondly make sure to test the automatic transmission carefully, especially on V6 models. If you feel a strong clunk when shifting into the Reverse or while driving, there may be some transmission problem.
Listen for humming noises from the wheel bearings. Check if the timing belt has been replaced. If not, you will have to do that. Look for the trailer hitch - if the car was used for towing, transmission might be excessively worn. If the "check engine" light is on, make sure to check it with your mechanic first.
The vehicle should start easily even if it's cold. It shouldn't shake, make excessive noise, or smoke. If you see a cloud of blue smoke at start-up, be ware, it's the first sign of possible engine problem - avoid this car. During a test-drive look for anything irregular such as vibrations, noises, etc. Pay particular attention to check the automatic transmission.
Test drive the car for as long as you need to get the feeling, tries to drive on bumpy road and if it's possible, take the car on a highway. Try to accelerate - there shouldn't be any hesitations.
Don't sign a contract and don't give a deposit until you are completely satisfied with the car. Consider to test-drive another vehicle of the same model to have something to compare with.
If you find any problem with the car make sure to discuss in details - what exactly will be done. For example, if the car needs new tires, what kind of tires will be installed - cheapest possible or of reputable brand? If they offer you an extended warranty, thoroughly study the contract first.
Sanjay Kumar writes content about Honda Accord,
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